Illinois lawmakers weigh ban on all formulas of synthetic marijuana

Thursday

Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation aimed at preventing manufacturers of synthetic marijuana from skirting laws banning the substance often sold and branded as "Spice" or "K2."

The effort comes after public health officials reported that four people have died in recent weeks after using synthetic cannabinoids believed to be laced with rat poison. Another 164 people have been sickened by the substance also known as "fake weed," showing up in hospital emergency rooms after coughing up blood or experiencing bleeding in their urine, nose or gums. Most cases have been reported in the Chicago or Peoria areas.

Synthetic cannabinoids are a man-made mixture of hundreds of chemicals that affect the same brain cell receptors as the active ingredient in marijuana — commonly known as THC — that causes people to get a euphoric high. The chemicals are typically sprayed on a plant material to be smoked, or the mixture can be sold in a liquid form to be used in e-cigarettes or vaping devices.

Illinois has passed several laws over the years designed to keep synthetic marijuana off the shelves, but manufacturers often tweak the formula to get around rules banning certain chemicals. In fewer than 10 years, the types of synthetic cannabinoid formulas jumped from two in 2009 to more than 80 in 2015, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Now, a measure that cleared the state Senate this week would ban all types of synthetic cannabinoids instead of just specific formulas. It's a "catch-all" approach designed to prevent manufacturers from circumventing laws that only ban specific chemical combinations. Drugs that would be prohibited include any synthetic cannabinoids as well as piperazines or synthetic cathinones that are not approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Manufacturing or delivery of those substances would carry two to five years of prison time and fines of as much as $25,000. Possession may result in at least one year in jail.

"What this bill does is it closes that loophole," said Sen. Jacqueline Collins, a Democrat from Chicago who is sponsoring the legislation. "Right now you can go into many of these corner stores on the South and West Side and see these drugs on display. It's very popular, it's cheap and easy access, but it's deadly."

The proposal passed without opposition, and is now in the House for consideration.

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